Music
Wazupnaija – Naija Entertainment blogs & Forums – Entertainment – Music
Leonard Cohen’s Estate Responds to Unauthorized Use of ‘Hallelujah’ at RNC: ‘We Are Exploring Our Legal Options’
Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah” hit found an unlikely — and unauthorized — stage twice at the Republican National Convention finale, and his estate is considering taking legal actions. Two iterations of the song, Tori Kelly‘s recorded cover and Christopher Macchio’s louder, televised operatic rendition, played as President Donald Trump concluded his speech. Fireworks spelling out “TRUMP” and “2020” shot into the sky to Kelly’s version of “Hallelujah,” igniting anger among the late Canadian singer-songwriter’s fans. Kelly responded in a since-deleted tweet, “Seeing messages about my version of ‘Hallelujah’. All I know is neither myself nor my team received a request.” But ...
Ani DiFranco on Capital Punishment, Working with Inmates, and the Prison Music Project
Kyle Meredith With… Ani DiFranco Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public | RSS Ani DiFranco speaks with Kyle Meredith about her collaboration with the Prison Music Project on Long Time Gone. DiFranco takes us through her team up with Zoe Boekbinder, who brought in songs from inmates incarcerated within New Folsom Prison, and how it’s set to be adapted into a stage play. The legendary musician and activist also weighs in on capital punishment, citizen journalism, her hopes for Joe Biden, and the importance of voting in November’s election. Kyle Meredith With… is an interview series in which WFPK’s Kyle Meredith speaks to a wide breadth of musicians. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Mere...
Leonard Cohen’s Estate Exploring Legal Actions Against RNC Over Unauthorized Use of “Hallelujah”
Leonard Cohen’s estate is exploring “legal options” following the unauthorized use of “Hallelujah” during Thursday night’s Republican National Convention. In a statement, Brian J. Monaco, president and global chief marketing officer of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said that “on the eve of the finale of the convention, representatives from the Republican National Committee contacted us regarding obtaining permission for a live performance of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’. We declined their request.” The RNC nonetheless played two different versions of “Hallelujah” during last convention: a recorded cover by Tori Kelly and a live performance sung by opera singer Christopher Macchio. Michelle L. Rice, the legal representative for the Cohen Estate, said the family was “surprised and dismayed that...
The X-Files Animated Comedy Show in the Works at Fox
Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are two of the all-time best detectives in the supernatural TV game, but there’s some cases in The X-Files world too weird for the duo to tackle — or at least that’s what executives have dreamed up. Hence the creation of The X-Files: Albuquerque, a new spin-off series at Fox that will follow a team of agents who handle the projects Mulder and Scully don’t have time for. According to Variety, The X-Files: Albuquerque is an animated comedy show that’s already quietly in development. Creator Chris Carter is onboard as the executive producer of the show, Rocky Russo and Jeremy Sosenko are writing the script and executive producing, and Gabe Rotter — who worked on The X-Files revival — will also executive produce. Bento Box will provide animation. Unfortunately...
Nicolas Cage to Voice Alcoholic Dragon in Amazon’s Highfire
Nicolas Cage is following in the proud lineage of Sean Connery, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rachel Weisz by lending his voice to a CG dragon. The actor has signed on to play the title character in Amazon Prime’s adaptation of Highfire (via Deadline). The live-action series is based on the crime thriller novel by Eoin Colfer, best known for his Artemis Fowl series (which took Disney years to turn into a completely terrible movie). Unlike those books, though, Highfire is aimed at an adult audience, with The Guardian describing it as “True Detective meets Swamp Thing.” It’s centered on Highfire (Cage), a dragon who used to lord over his brethren but now lives in the Louisiana Honey Island Swamp. Going by the name “Vern,” he hides amongst alligators when he’s not watchin...
Disclosure Open Up About Working with Mac Miller: “He Was On the Way Back to Recovery and Health”
Following the tragic death of Mac Miller due to an accidental overdose, the late hip-hop sage’s posthumous album Circles was released in January 2020. The aching record, which many found to illuminate Miller’s realization of inner peace prior to his passing, featured a track titled “Blue World” that was produced in part by Disclosure‘s Guy Lawrence. In a new expansive interview with NME, the Grammy Award-nominated electronic duo waxed poetic about working with Miller, saying that he was on the road to recovery at the time. “I wrote a tune with Mac Miller, and he was on the way back to recovery and health, and by all accounts it was just a tragic accident,” said Lawrence. Guy’s brother and Disclosure sidekick, Howard Lawrence, shrewd...
![BT Dissected His Biggest Tracks to Invite Fans on a Journey Through His Storied Career [Exclusive]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/bt-dissected-his-biggest-tracks-to-invite-fans-on-a-journey-through-his-storied-career-exclusive-1050x600.png)
![BT Dissected His Biggest Tracks to Invite Fans on a Journey Through His Storied Career [Exclusive]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/bt-dissected-his-biggest-tracks-to-invite-fans-on-a-journey-through-his-storied-career-exclusive-80x80.png)
BT Dissected His Biggest Tracks to Invite Fans on a Journey Through His Storied Career [Exclusive]
With a career spanning over 25 years, the mythos of electronic dance music surges through BT. The fabled trance producer’s groundbreaking sonic flair gushed through the dance music sphere in the mid-90s like a tributary, pervading it en route to the ushering in of a new electronic epoch. As BT’s pioneering developments in trance music became more ubiquitous through the years, his artistry began to mutate, evolving and expanding into a litany of electronic sub-genres such as IDM, ambient, and even trip hop. As the time passed, he started to resemble a doppelgänger of himself—a completely different person with the same face and mind. However, his latest album, The Lost Art of Longing, moonlighted as an audial time machine that transported him back to his dance roots. The rec...
GRAVEDGR, Hekler, and Natalie 2V Unleash Genre-Bending Single “CAME FROM HELL”
Both GRAVEDGR and HEKLER have kept busy in 2020. The former released his debut album 6 FEET UNDER to positive reception, while the latter has dropped a consistent stream of singles. The two have now joined forces with Natalie 2V for “CAME FROM HELL,” out via Carnage‘s Heavyweight Records. Originally set to debut at Rampage Open Air this year, “CAME FROM HELL” is a genre-bending bop. Natalie 2V’s gentle vocals serve as an excellent intro, guiding listeners into two wildly different drops. The first is pure drum & bass goodness, complete with industrial-sounding synths and crisp percussion. The second maintains the energy from the first drop, but distorted kicks take over and transform the tune into a psytrance smash. Whil...
Claude VonStroke and Catz ‘n Dogz Drop Eclectic New EP “RAGGADAGGA”
Dirtybird‘s spirited leader Claude VonStroke is reuniting with longtime friends and collaborators Catz ‘n Dogz to offer their brand new EP, RAGGADAGGA. With over 20 years of history under their collective belt, this two-track collection oozes with chemistry, showcasing the perfect singles that will both kickstart your evening and wind you down. It’s not often that a song enters your ears and immediately makes you want to laugh and dance at the same time. The title track “Raggadagga” does just that. It’s both playful and unique while delivering a relentless beat that pulsates through the body, bound to get trapped in your head all day long. If the first track gets the party going, “How I Make You Feel” is the perfect son...
CRADLE OF FILTH Announces Livestream Concert From England’s St. Mary’s Church
Despite the extremely difficult situation for musicians and concerts all over the world, vampyric masters of extreme metal CRADLE OF FILTH continue to appease their salivating fans by celebrating All Hallow’s Eve in style, even in 2020, the official year of the plague. This time the band, draped around lead singer Dani Filth, takes it to the next far-flung tower by announcing a live stream concert from St. Mary’s Church, Colchester Art Centre, England for the auspicious date of October 30. Filth states: “As a band, CRADLE OF FILTH are over the moon to be performing again and in such an iconic location close to Dani‘s home county of Suffolk here in England. It will be a celebration of not only Halloween and all its ghoulish accoutrements, but also of the new CRADLE a...
ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS Feat. FEAR FACTORY Singer BURTON C. BELL: ‘Ghost Heart’ Music Video
ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS, the project led by FEAR FACTORY vocalist Burton C. Bell, will release its second full-length album, “Apocrypha”, on October 9 via Dissonance Productions. The recording will be available on CD, two limited vinyl formats and through all major digital outlets. The official music video for “Ghost Heart”, the first single from “Apocrypha”, can be seen below. Comments Bell: “I am very proud to present the first single, ‘Ghost Heart’, from our latest recording, ‘Apocrypha’. The song was recorded exactly the way I wanted it to sound; powerfully mysterious, which also describes the video created by Victor Hugo-Borge. A surreal landscape for the cinematic tones that is the moving track ‘Ghost HeartR...
I PREVAIL Shares Emotional Video For ‘Every Time You Leave’
Rock powerhouse I PREVAIL has shared the impactful and topical video for its new single “Every Time You Leave”, which is currently ascending the rock radio charts. “Every Time You Leave” is I PREVAIL unlike you’ve ever heard them. The track demonstrates the band’s songwriting prowess and shows a more contemplative side of their musical style. The video takes a close, hard and unsettling look at the difficulties and traumas faced by the people and the families who are on the frontlines of both sides of war. Previously, I PREVAIL shared an intimate performance video of the song, which was recorded during quarantine. The song and video feature Juno-nominated Canadian vocalist Delaney Jane, showcasing the rich element of male-female vocal interplay that high...
